The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-11-10
ROBERT E, LEE.
Laying OF the Cornerstone of the Rich
mond Monument,

ROBERT E. LEE.
Laying OF the Cornerstone of the Rich
mond Monument.
RICHMOND, VA, Oct. 27.-To.day,
in this city, was laid the corner stone of
monument to be erected to the memory
of General Robert E. Lee, the exemplar
of devotion to civic duty, and the great
estsoldier this continent has Reproduced.
Soon after the death of Virginia's great
son, in October, 1870, there was meet
ing held at Richmond by Confederate
soldiers to organize an association to be
charged with the task of erecting q per-
manent memorial of their comrade.
Several associations, in fact were formed
with this object in view, and engaged in
the work of raising the requisite funds,
but all were ultimately consolidated with
the Lee Monument Association, of which
by law passed during Governor KEN
per's term, the Governor, Auditor and
Treasurer of the State, together with
several representatives OF the Ladies
Memorial Association, were made mana
gers. Sufficient money having been COL
lected to justify the inception of the en-
terprise committed to their charge, the
Lee Monument Association in June last
contracted with NJ. Antonin Mercie, q
distinguished sculptor of Paris, for q
bronze equestrian statue of heroic size,
to be completed within about eig hteen
months from the present time. AS re.
spects the pedestal, the cornerstone of
which was laid to-day, it is stated in the
contract with M. Mercie that it will most
probably be thirty. four feet nine inches
high, though the committee acting IN
behalf of the association reserve the
right to increase, if they see proper, the
dimensions of pedestal and statue.
"Lee Place." the site selected for the
monument, is outside the city's limits, at
the intersection of Allen and Monument
Avenues, Monument Avenue being an
extension westward of Franklin street.
Ample space is provided about the pedes
tai, and the grantors make special pro-
vision for an unobstrncted view and vista
along the avenues at whose intersection
it is placed. The model for the statue.
approved in the main by the committee,
represents thoroughbred Virginia horse,
checked up by the rider, and standing
therefore planted firmly upon his four
feet. The rider is Lee-no ideal figure,
but the serene and majestic commander
of the army of Northern Virginia, in
the act Of ordering q body of troops into
the fight.
/ In celebrating the achievements Of
General Lee, the South claims the co op-
Grafton. and sympathy of the whole coun'
try ~ The glories won by him, with the
aid of his matchless troops, belong to all
sections of the Union. He and they
we're an honor to the age in which they
lived, exhibiting in victory and defeat
virtues that will command the respect OF
the world for all time.
THE CEREMONIES OF THE DAY.
RICHMOND, VA, Oct. 27.-The day
opened gloomy and wet, with no change
in the condition of the weather from that
which has prevailed for three days past.
The heavy clouds, which have overhung
The city since Sunday night have given
an almost incessant down pour OF rain,
and remained unbroken and threatening,
and Ricbmond's big day was ushered IN
with a misty rain, which fell steadily,
with no indication Of cessation. Despite
all this, however, the people of the city
and many thousands of visitors we're
early on the streets, and by o'clock the
moving multitude was 80 great that 1t
was plainly evident that Richmond's
population for the day was as large, and
probably larger than on any previous oc'
casion. :,
At an early hour the sound of martial
music was heard in every direction, and
military, mounted and afoot, could be
seen moving to their various positions
/ preparatory to the formation of the pro-
cession. Mounted marshals and courle!s
dashed hilher and thither, directing the
movements of troops and arranging the
line of march.
Before 10 o'clock the rain had tempo.
rarily ceased, but the clouds remained
unbrokeu and threatening. The people,
however, seemed not to notice this, but
had apparently made up their minds to
carry out the programme OF the day IN
sll its details, rain or shine.
The visiting military consists OF two
corps of Cadets-oue from the Virginia
Military Institute and the other from
Blacksburg Agricultural and Mechanical
College; two regiments Of Virginia in.
fantry, three companies ofcavalry, four OF
artillery also, two companies OF lntan'
try from North Carolina and one from
MARYLAND. Besides these, there are sew
eral camps of Confederate veterans from
different parts of the State and 600 veter-
ans of the Maryland line. The latter
arrived here this morning and their aep'
pearance on the streets, with the Marine
Band of Washington at the head OF the
line. created considerable interest, and
they were everywhere greeted with enthu-
siasm.
-Four professors and ffty.6ve students
arrived this morning from Washington
and Lee University. General r. p. Lee
was at the time of his death president OF
the institution, and was succeeded by his
son. General G. w. .Custis Lee, who is
now the president. Owing to the recent
illness or LOo laItoi, ho ""o
participate in to days ceremonies, but
bis brother, General w. II. +. popular
" known as "Rooney'') Lee and Captain
Robert E. Lee are here. The only other
immediate members of the family are
two daughters, who are at present In
Europe. &. ,i.s,,., ,iio,
everything being in readiness, the process
sion began to move. At the head OF the
line, after detachments of mounted
police, came the Chief Marshal OF the
day, General Wade Hampton, riding
side BIZ side with Governor Fitzhugh
Lee, both superbly mounted. Then iol.
lowed the Governors staff in brilliant
uniform, and the assistant marshals'
Next in successive order came the Vir'
ginia Confederate Veteran camps, yeter-
ans q of the Maryland line, the volunteer
infantry Of Virginia and the North
Carolina artillery, and then all the
various civic organizations, embracing
the Grand Lodge of Virginia Masons,
two commanderies of Knights Tempiar,